IDEAL LINE CONCEPT® for Nurburgring Nordschleife

Part 1: The Maps

Part 1: Circuit Maps The circuit maps drawn up by Rolf-Dieter Peschke (†) were out of print, and in some cases outdated. Rolf-Dieter Peschke, a long-standing instructor at Scuderia Hanseat Gesellschaft für Fahrsicherheit, had revised and updated the ideal line in the majority of the circuit maps. Scuderia generously provided us with the maps for further revision and duplication.

The circuit maps are the ideal aid for drivers looking to discover the ideal line – both for the circuit as a whole and for its individual sections. They give us an overview of each circuit section at a glance. The circuit maps deal with the following sections

1. Nordschleife entrance and exit, Antonius-Buche, Tiergarten, Hohenrain, turnoff to Grand Prix track
2. Hatzenbach approach, Hatzenbach I, Hatzenbach II, Hatzenbach III, Hocheichen
3. Quiddelbacher Höhe, Flugplatz, Schwedenkreuz, Aremberg
4. Fuchsröhre, Adenauer Forst
5. Metzgesfeld, Kallenhard, Wehrseifen, Breitscheid, Ex-Mühle, Lauda-Kurve
6. Bergwerk, Kesselchen I & II
7. Kesselchen III & IV, Klostertal
8. Klostertalkurve, Caracciola-Karussell, Hohe Acht approach, Hohe Acht
9. Hedwigshöhe, Wippermann, Eschbach, Brünnchen, Eis-Kurve
10. Pflanzgarten, after Pflanzgarten . Schwalbenschwanz approach
11. Schwalbenschwanz, Kleines Karussell, Galgenkopf, Döttinger Höhe
12. Grand-Prix track, Mercedes Arena, Sprintstrecke, Müllenbachschleife

Example: Circuit Map B shows a diagram of the ideal line for the Hatzenbach-Hocheichen section

In addition to the diagram of the route itself, letters and numbers are shown at certain points. The letter before the number indicates the location of the given point in the circuit maps, book and film. The number sequence starts at 1 for each circuit section except A.

B1 A circle around the letter and number on the circuit maps indicates that the book contains a picture of the vehicle positioned exactly on the ideal line.

Helicopter B21 A helicopter symbol shown next to the letter and number indicates that the book contains an aerial shot of the circuit section at the point indicated. Camera B21 A camera symbol next to the letter and number indicates that the circuit section is included in the film. By using the circuit maps, we can rapidly gain an excellent overview of the entire section to be practised. We have a sound basis of information and can identify the key aspects of each section at a glance. However, there is one disadvantage accompanying these benefits. The circuit cannot be reproduced exactly to scale on paper (see above), so that the turns are effectively “pushed together” by the need to reduce the turn radii and shorten the straights. Because of this distortion of reality for technical reasons, we decided to add photos supplying complementary information – the inspiration behind the production of this illustrated book.

Part 2: The book for Nurburgring Nordschleife
Stationary cars – turn by turn

The book gives us the opportunity to examine the Nurburgring in depth – turn by turn. But there’s more!

Every turn or bend consists of a turn-in point, an apex and a turn-out point. To follow the ideal line perfectly, we need to judge these points correctly.

Unless otherwise specified, the blue Porsche is shown at the exact turn-in point, at the start of the turn or bend (coming out of the straight).

The red Porsche marks the exact apex of the turn – the point on the ideal line that is closest to the inside edge of the track. The yellow Porsche is shown at the exact turn-out point, or at the end of a sequence of bends.

We decided to include such a large number of photos for the following reason: If we had limited ourselves to a single picture with the car at the turn-in point, apex and turn-out point, we would not have been able to apply in-depth analysis at each point.

The major benefit of using stationary cars as opposed to circuit maps is their ability to show the situation realistically. The photos enable us to concentrate on vital details such as curb height and angle, any verges or run-off areas, points of attention along the circuit edge, distance between track and crash barriers, etc. We can examine every point minutely and gain an overall view of the turn or sequence of turns.
Note: In the photos, the drivers are shown without helmets – for the simple reason that all shots were taken using stationary cars.

In connected turns or sequences of turns, the cars were positioned in the exact ideal positions before the shots were taken, and remained there throughout the shoot while the photographer moved around to various standpoints.

We deliberately positioned the cars very close to the track edge. The points are demonstrated with an almost schoolmasterly precision. We recommend that when “feeling your way” towards the ideal line, you remain one wheel-width inside the track boundary. This is particularly important in wet track conditions for safety reasons!

The circuit maps and photos complement each other perfectly; at last, an actual photo that precisely corresponds to what the map tells us. Nevertheless, this combination of circuit maps and photos still has a few weaknesses. It does not cover the entire circuit, and the transition points from one circuit section to the next are shown either inadequately or not at all. Looking at the stationary cars still gives us no real idea of what it will be like to actually drive ourselves.

To understand exactly the line we have to take, we have to be able to see the circuit from the perspective of a moving car. For this reason, we asked two professional camera operators to film a circuit of the ideal line at a speed of 60 km/h.

Part 3: The film for Nurburgring Nordschleife
Instruction Circuit at 60 km/h

The first camera shows the route itself. The second camera focuses on my hands, to make it clear how little steering movement is necessary once we have found the ideal line. And by the way, high speeds require very little more steering movement than that shown in the film.

The film presents all the points examined in the circuit maps and the book, in the actual context where they occur on the track.

Example:

We are heading for the Hatzenbach approach. B1 lights up before the turn-in point. As we approach the apex of the turn, B1 disappears and B2 lights up. As we continue to the turn-out point, B2 disappears from the screen and B3 lights up, and so on. The major benefit of the film is that we have plenty of time to memorize the points along the route with the assistance of the circuit maps and/or the book. We can watch each passage at any time, as many times as we want.

Orientation
There are two ways to find out simply and rapidly where we are on the circuit, or where we would like to be:
An overview is printed on the inside front cover of the book, supplying the following useful information at a glance:

1. the route
2. The letters for each section (inside of the course plan)
3. The names of the passages (outside of the course plan)
4. The reference number for the page in the book on which the corresponding photos appear
5. The actual page number (book page)
6. The reference of the circuit maps and film sequence (outside of the page numbers)

The inside back cover features an alphabetical list of all key information on how to use the circuit maps, book and film: (Excerpt from the alphabetical list on the inside back cover)

(cutout from the alphabetical list on the inside of the rear cover)

example: Adenauer-Forst
Circuit Maps
Map: The route section is indicated by the letter D on the circuit map. Reference number: The reference number D6-D14 indicates where the section starts and finishes in the map. (The transition from one section to the next is flowing and does not have a precise boundary.)

The book
Chapter: Chapter: Chapter D of the book describes the route section. Reference number: D6-D14 indicate the photos in the book that show the points along the route. (The ref. no. in the circuit maps and the book may not always match, since not all points given in the circuit maps are documented in photos.) Page(s): 65-70 indicate the corresponding pages in the book.

The Film
Chapter: Chapter: The letter D indicates where we can find the route section on the DVD. The DVD is structured to enable us to watch each section individually.

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